Gros Morne Adventures in the Backcountry

Experience an Adventure Travel Camping Experience in Gros Morne!

What’s not to love about exploring a camper’s paradise in Gros Morne National Park and western Newfoundland when your choice of accommodation is a tent! Campgrounds within the park range from those operated by the park as well as privately run campgrounds. For one of those super Gros Morne adventures, try backcountry camping!

Gros Morne adventures involving primitive backcountry camping give you lots of clean, wide open spaces and few people. Of course, an adventure travel experience of this type will require a wilderness ethic where you leave no trace of your time there.

Gros Morne adventures involving primitive backcountry camping are found near some of the best park trails. The campsites are limited in number, cannot be reserved in advanced and are available at the Parks Canada offices on a first come, first served basis. The campsites include wooden tent pads, bear-proof food lockers or poles and pit toilets. Camp fires are only allowed in some places and therefore a portable stove is a necessity for you.

Green Gardens Primitive Campsite

An adventure travel experience awaits you on the Green Gardens Hiking Trail, one of the more challenging trails taking about 6 hours to do a return trip. Off Route 431, follow the trail to the coastline where you will pass cliffs, serpentine barrens, and green grassy gardens until you reach the beach at Old Man Cove. Set up your tent at one of three locations along Green Gardens Trail. All sites have tent platforms, picnic tables and pit toilets. Campfires only allowed on the beach!

Stanleyville Primitive Campsite

The Stanleyville Trail, not a difficult hiking trail, is a 4 km return trip and should take about two hours to hike. The trail begins at the day-use area playground in Lomond campground on the south side of the park and takes you along an old road to the abandoned logging community of Stanleyville where you will find your primitive campsite to spend the night. Don’t forget to register with the park.

Gros Morne Mountain and Ferry Gulch Primitive Campsite

About 7 km east of Rocky Harbour on Route 430 take the trail to the Gros Morne Mountain Trail. This 806 m high flat-topped mountain, the second highest peak in Newfoundland, can be hiked in about 6 to 7 hours. The trail is 16km long and to stay overnight will give you time to enjoy the spectacular scenery along the way. To camp overnight at Ferry Gulch, you must purchase a permit at the park to ensure too many people are not staying on the site. Set up your tent at the Ferry Gulch campsite which accommodates 3 tents set up on tent pads. The site includes a pit toilet, bear pole and picnic tables. No campfires are allowed; so bring your own portable stove.

Snug Harbour Primitive Campsite

Off Route 430, take the trail into Western Brook Pond. The path to Snug Harbour is off the Western Brook Pond trail near the mouth of Western Brook Pond Gorge. The path is narrow and at times can be muddy. At the end of the path you will find the primitive campsite in a cove Snug Harbour. Again don’t forget to register with the park staff before leaving for Snug Harbour.

Primitive camping is one of the exciting Gros Morne adventures available to those who want an unforgettable adventure travel experience.